The San Francisco 49ers have a handful of difficult decisions to make when it comes to their collection of free agents in the 2025 offseason.
With Brock Purdy’s contract extension on the horizon, the 49ers’ ability to retain high-priced free agents will get tricky. This offseason they’ll have 33 players set to hit the free agent market, but not every free agent-to-be falls under the same rules. San Francisco will have more control over some than others.
Of those 33 players set to hit the market, 24 will be unrestricted free agents. Two are set for restricted free agency, and seven will be exclusive-rights free agents.
Here’s a quick look at each category of free agent and which 49ers players fall into that group:
Unrestricted
Unrestricted free agents are exactly what they sound like. They’re fully on the open market and if they choose to walk the 49ers have no recourse to keep them in the building.
QB Brandon Allen
QB Joshua Dobbs
RB Elijah Mitchell
RB Patrick Taylor
WR Chris Conley
TE Eric Saubert
OL Aaron Banks
OL Ben Bartch
OL Jon Feliciano
OL Charlie Heck
OL Jaylon Moore
DL Khalil Davis
DL Kevin Givens
DL Javon Hargrave
LB De’Vondre Campbell
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
LB Dre Greenlaw
CB Nick McCloud
CB Charvarius Ward
CB Rock Ya-Sin
CB Isaac Yiadom
S Tashaun Gipson
S Talanoa Hufanga
P Pat O’Donnell
Restricted
The 49ers will have a little more say over what happens with their RFAs. There are three RFA tenders: first round, second round and right of first refusal. If an RFA doesn’t receive a tender, they become unrestricted.
If they do receive a tender, the player can explore the open market. The 49ers would have the right to match any deal they get. If another team signs a player with a first or second round tender, they’d owe San Francisco their pick in that round of this year’s draft.
Players who sign those tenders will be on one-year, fully-guaranteed deals. First-round tenders are worth a projected $7,279,000 according to Over the Cap. Second-round tenders are $5,217,000. The right of first refusal tender for 2025 is $3,185,000.
Another benefit for RFAs who sign their tenders is the added runway to work out a long-term extension.
RB Jordan Mason
LB Curtis Robinson
Exclusive rights
ERFAs are typically going to return to their previous team. The 49ers can give them a qualifying offer and it locks the player in. If the QO is not extended, they become an unrestricted free agent.
TE Jake Tonges
TE Brayden Willis
OL Austen Pleasants
DL Evan Anderson
DL Alex Barrett
DL Sam Okuayinonu
LB Jalen Graham